In the nascent stages of this final table the rail remains hushed, save for sporadic outbursts, for now. The beer is already flowing though, meaning the cheering is getting a bit of louder when their chosen player wins a pot and the decibel levels of the hushed conversation when hands are in progress is rising steadily.
If finishing positions were in response to who has essentially the most raucous rail then they could to boot give the trophy to Kevin Killeen at this time and lets all write about how Jake Cody have been denied a second EPT title in losing heads-up to the Irishman.
No surprise there you could think given the Irish and English at the rail were likely already here playing or had less distance to travel to get here, but that might be too simplistic. Probably the most vocal railer in Kevin Killeen's section, just as he was when Killeen won UKIPT Dublin, is Fintan Hand.
Hand, who's also handy at poker, has needed to traverse greater than the skip and a jump around the Irish Sea to be here today. He's one of the poker players who live in Malta and would've missed the shuffle up and deal announcements but for the general table starting fashionably late. "I only came QUARTER-HOUR ago," he tells the PokerStars Blog shortly after play gets under way. He's noticeable not just for his bright green suit, but because he doesn't yet have a lager at the go. "Apparently there's an under/over on when I'll get kicked out for being too rowdy," he laughs. "So I AM NOT going to have a drink for a couple of hours. I'm always the person who gets noticed."
When Killeen won in Dublin the rail had quite a few catchy chants and they've already belted out some of the classics singing, "T is for Torino, T is for Torino," in connection with Killeen's online screenname. Their other hit from Dublin was, "YOU CAN NOT beat the beard, can't beat the beard," that's been retired as Killeen has since shaved it off. "We're excited about changing it to, 'can't beat the hat,' but we'll see." says Hand.
He's not the one one who's gone above and beyond to get here to rail his friend, Stephen Malone hates flying and hasn't flown for seven years, but this final table was an itch he needed to scratch. Killeen's brother and mother are here, they've flown in for Shannon, eschewing a social engagement to rail their flesh and blood. Whilst two of Killeen's friends who're here shouldn't have passports, in order that they needed to travel by boat to Hollyhead in Wales after which get the train to London. Whilst German pro Marc Radgen - who finished 5th at UKIPT Isle of Man - lends a international flavour to Killeen's supporters.
A few metres to the fitting of the Irish contingent you will find a big swathe of widely recognized players all here in support of Jake Cody as he goes on the lookout for a record equalling second EPT title. They include former flatmate Jamie Sykes, two-time WSOP bracelet winner and best poker buddy Matt Perrins, Kevin Allen, Niall Farrell , who hopped onto the rail after busting the High Roller - Jamie Roberts and Jake's girlfriend Alex. Word is they did need to bring their little girl Arianna with them today but regulations prevented it. "I WOULD NOT was allowed near the table and would've needed to watch from upstairs, so I'D to boot has been at home," says Alex.
The English contingent are only talking amongst themselves for now, but a couple of have amber liquid in hand. No sign of jaegerbombs, shoe bombs or bare chests yet but give it time and the individual funking hardest for Cody isn't even here.
The Anglo-Irish contingent would not have all of it their very own way though and Cody is not the only man going for a second EPT title today. Whilst Kevin MacPhee may well be American he's a poker nomad and Stephen Chidwick is in his corner today. He's playing the £5,000 turbo event whilst keeping track of proceedings via #EPTLive and Max Silver gave the EPT Berlin champion the top of fives yesterday after MacPhee made the overall eight. The Spanish contingent, here to cheer on Pablo Gordillo, includes UKIPT4 Nottingham 6th place finisher Juan Benito and WSOPE champion Adrian Mateos. They gave it some oomph when their man picked up a pot within the first orbit.
The Germans have arrived too with Igor Kurganov, Philipp Gruissem, Martin Finger and Max Altergott taking day trip from the £5,000 turbo to cheer on Artur Koren and Sebastian Pauli. If Ole Schemion, shows up then its all over, as we all know he has the midas touch.
Just just like the poker the rail is warming up nicely, if that trend continues it's possible we'd see more ejections off the table than on it and with Killeen second in chips and Cody third we would well see an Ireland vs England battle off the table too.
Follow our coverage of the EPT London festival via the primary EPT London page, where there are hand-by-hand updates and chip counts within the panel on the top and have pieces below. And, of course, you'll follow all of it live at EPT Live.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: European Poker Tour]
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